Though he called her a silly girl, holding this person in his arms still brought countless joys welling up in his heart. He felt her breathing evenly against him, and even without doing anything, he was filled with utmost happiness.
It was like a river that had been dammed up for too long suddenly bursting free, or like tough grass that had been pressed under a stone finally sprouting upward. This was the way of nature and human relationships – emotions that could no longer be restrained or suppressed.
He held her quietly for a long while. Finally, his arms began to ache, and Chu Yu seemed to grow uncomfortable as well, letting out a soft moan. Wei Yun considered for a moment, then laid her down on the rooftop. He covered her with his outer robe and lay down beside her, gazing at her peacefully.
Time passed quickly as he watched her. Before long, the first rays of dawn fell across her face. Chu Yu’s eyelashes fluttered, and Wei Yun hurriedly turned away without a sound. Roused by the light, Chu Yu opened her eyes to see Wei Yun’s back. She shifted slightly and realized she was covered by Wei Yun’s outer robe. She vaguely recalled bringing Wei Yun up to the roof the night before. She raised a hand to her forehead, resting for a moment before standing up. She tapped Wei Yun’s shoulder. With his back still turned, he mumbled a response. Chu Yu said gently, “Xiao Qi, shall I take you down?”
Wei Yun pushed himself up without opening his eyes. Chu Chu Yuckled then wrapped an arm around Wei Yun’s waist and leaped down to the courtyard. After helping Wei Yun into his wheelchair, she pushed him back to his room. As they passed Shen Wushuang, who lay sprawled on the ground clutching Bai Shang, Chu Yu kicked him and said, “Get up.”
Shen Wushuang grumbled in response but only shifted to hold Bai Shang tighter.
Chu Yu helped Wei Yun to bed and instructed him, “You sleep for a bit. I’ll prepare your medicinal bath.”
Wei Yun faced away from her, seemingly half-asleep, and gave a low murmur of assent.
Chu Yu didn’t think much of it. She went to boil water and gather herbs. As sunlight fell into her eyes, she had a moment of disorientation. Fragments flashed through her mind – sky lanterns slowly rising, someone’s lips meeting hers.
She couldn’t help but laugh at herself, raising a hand to pat her cheeks. To think that after being reborn, she would have strange dreams like a young girl again.
In her youth, she had such dreams too. Back then, she had longed for Gu Chusheng. Her desire for him had been raw and unrestrained, without a trace of girlish shyness. She didn’t think there was anything wrong with it – she simply never expressed it or spoke of it because of Chu Jin.
There’s nothing wrong with liking someone. If you keep it quietly in your heart, it’s no one else’s business.
After Wei Yun soaked in medicinal baths for two more days, Chu Yu finally heard the news of Wei Xia and Wei Qiu while in Sha City. More precisely, she heard that an elite Great Chu military unit was harassing Northern Di civilians in various locations.
Chu Yu was amused when she heard this news. She went back to tell Wei Yun, cracking melon seeds as she said, “Wei Xia and Wei Qiu are impressive. I thought they were holed up somewhere not coming out.”
Wei Yun said nothing. He examined the map Chu Yu showed him, which marked the places Wei Xia and Wei Qiu had been. They had essentially become a Great Chu guerrilla unit operating behind Northern Di lines, striking wherever they went. They would seize food and horses, then move on to the next location, never staying more than a night. By the time Northern Di sent troops, they had already vanished without a trace.
“Su Cha and the Great Chu army are locked in a stalemate on the main battlefield. Su Can is running himself ragged chasing after Wei Xia and Wei Qiu,” Chu Yu lounged in her chair, smiling. “No wonder they’re not in a rush to find us.”
“Su Can would be glad for me to go back,” Wei Yun tapped the table, saying flatly. “He’s hoping I’ll return and fight with Zhao Yue, which would greatly reduce the internal pressure on Northern Di.”
Chu Yu was stunned for a moment before understanding dawned.
That’s right – when Su Can originally gave Wei Yun a way out if he had truly wanted to kill Wei Yun, her small force couldn’t have stopped him.
But Wei Yun had done something momentous in Northern Di, leading two thousand men to directly assault the royal court and take the emperor hostage. For Northern Di subjects, this was likely an unprecedented humiliation. If Su Cha and Su Can showed no reaction at all, the people would surely be dissatisfied. So they pretended to hunt down Wei Yun while letting him escape.
Chu Yu frowned. “Does that mean we can leave directly?”
If Su Can’s intentions were as they thought, the strictest wanted notice probably hadn’t been issued.
Wei Yun looked up at Chu Yu. “If we leave, what about Wei Qiu and Wei Xia?”
Chu Yu fell silent, hesitating, unable to think of a good solution.
Wei Yun’s gaze returned to the map. “I brought them here, so naturally I must take them back. However many I can bring back, I will. There’s no justification for me to flee and leave them behind.”
With that, Wei Yun wheeled himself out. “Find Shen Wushuang. My legs still aren’t well – does he not want his head anymore?”
Chu Yu went to find Shen Wushuang, who was digging up medicinal herbs in the courtyard. Hearing Chu Yu’s words, he looked up and said, “Want to get better faster? Alright, I have some potent medicines. No other major issues, just pain. I was planning to use them in a few days if there was no improvement…”
“Use them,” Wei Yun said calmly.
Shen Wushuang glanced at him, smiling. “If you can’t endure it, you’re done for.”
Wei Yun grunted in acknowledgment without further comment.
That evening, Shen Wushuang brewed medicine for Wei Yun. He had Wei Yun drink the first bowl, which produced no noticeable effect. Shen Wushuang reached into the nearby bathtub to test the medicinal brew. The water was so hot it turned his hand red. He glanced at Chu Yu and said flatly, “Put him in.”
Chu Yu lifted Wei Yun and lowered him into the tub bit by bit.
When his feet touched the water, Wei Yun’s brow furrowed slightly, feeling only a prickling sensation. But as his legs submerged and the water reached his waist, a wave of excruciating pain suddenly hit him. Wei Yun couldn’t help but grip the edge of the tub tightly. Chu Yu halted, seeing Wei Yun’s face turned deathly pale. Shen Wushuang calmly said from the side, “Put him in.”
Wei Yun closed his eyes and nodded. Only then did Chu Yu finally let go, allowing Wei Yun to sit fully in the tub.
Wei Yun gripped the tub tightly, his entire body tense. Shen Wushuang watched him silently and instructed Chu Yu, “He needs to soak in this medicinal bath for four hours. I’ll go brew more medicine. He should drink a bowl every hour. The pain will get progressively worse, and he may struggle. When that happens, you can’t let him get out. If he does, it won’t just be a wasted effort.”
Shen Wushuang looked at Chu Yu seriously. “If he dies here, don’t blame me.”
Chu Yu’s expression turned grave. She pressed her lips together and said calmly, “I understand.”
She kept watch by Wei Yun’s side, observing as he sat rigidly in the tub, his face completely drained of color.
It was a pain like being stabbed by countless needles, densely pricking his entire body.
Cold sweat beaded on Wei Yun’s face. Chu Yu sat on a stool beside him and said slowly, “Let me talk to you. Don’t keep staring into the water.”
Wei Yun couldn’t speak through his clenched teeth, only managing a slight nod.
Chu Yu thought for a moment, then began speaking slowly. “Where should I start? I’ll tell you about when I was little. We have plenty of time.”
Chu Yu’s voice was calm as she spoke of her childhood.
From birth, she had lived on the southwestern border. The region was perpetually shrouded in miasma. The Southern Yue people’s methods were insidious, different from the fierce brutality of the Northern Di. The Southern Yue possessed a kind of darkness that had seeped into their bones, carrying the yin energy of flowers and plants – as terrifying as venomous snakes.
However, they loved and hated with equal intensity – loving openly and hating thoroughly.
They were utterly ruthless toward enemies, yet wholeheartedly devoted to their people.
Thus, though small, Southern Yue held its ground against the vast nation of Great Chu on the southwestern border.
The stories she told weren’t particularly interesting, just childhood experiences. Yet as he listened, Wei Yun found himself completely drawn in by her voice. His pain lessened considerably, and he gazed at Chu Yu quietly, like a child, his eyes hazy.
Two hours passed quickly. Shen Wushuang entered carrying a bowl of medicine. He handed it to Wei Yun, saying, “Drink.”
Wei Yun clenched his teeth and drank it all in one gulp from Shen Wushuang’s hand. Shen Wushuang brought in another bucket and added the freshly brewed medicinal concoction to the bath.
As the new medicine was added, Wei Yun felt as if blades were slicing through his flesh, carving it away piece by piece, like a slow dismemberment.
He instinctively tried to stand, but quickly caught himself, forcing himself to stay submerged in the medicinal bath. Shen Wushuang hurriedly stuffed a cloth for Wei Yun to bite down on, telling Chu Yu, “Keep watching him.”
Seeing Wei Yun’s condition, Chu Yu’s heart clenched painfully.
She could only continue as before, carrying on with her story.
Wei Yun struggled to listen, but he was barely able to focus anymore.
By the third hour, Wei Yun’s mind was nearly blank. Shen Wushuang gave him the medicine to drink, and Wei Yun’s entire body trembled.
Chu Yu watched him curled up in the medicinal bath. She reached out, placing her hand in the water, but felt no pain herself.
She frowned, looking at Shen Wushuang as he added more medicine to the bath. “Just how painful is it?” she asked with furrowed brows.
“The first bowl of medicine feels like being stabbed by ten thousand needles.”
“The second bowl, like being slowly sliced by a thousand blades.”
“The third bowl, like having your skin peeled off and tendons torn out.”
“The fourth bowl…” Shen Wushuang hesitated for a moment before continuing slowly, “From bones to flesh, the pain reaches its ultimate limit everywhere. How painful exactly… I’ve never dared to try it myself.”
Hearing this, Chu Yu’s heart twisted agonizingly.
Shen Wushuang finished adding the medicine and straightened up, looking at Wei Yun.
Wei Yun remained in the tub. He had bitten through the cloth, his entire body shaking, yet he still controlled himself, curled up in the tub without making a sound.
“He’s doing very well,” Shen Wushuang finally spoke, a hint of respect in his expression. “The most resilient patient I’ve seen only stayed in for four hours, and they were shouting to get out by the second hour. He… is exceptional.”
Chu Yu lowered her gaze to Wei Yun.
He was only fifteen, yet he could always control himself so well. He hadn’t broken down when returning home carrying his father and brothers, and even now, in such extreme pain, he made no sound.
Chu Yu couldn’t help but recall what she, Gu Chusheng, and Chu Jin were like at fifteen.
Back then, they had been willful and unrestrained, with touches of immaturity and innocence. Even Gu Chusheng at fifteen, burdened with family vengeance as he left for the frontier, would arrogantly refuse to bow his head to the local gentry. When humiliated, he would tell her to go away out of embarrassment. He would lose control of his emotions and recoil from pain.
But not Wei Yun.
He always kept his emotions in check and had never harmed anyone.
As Chu Yu truly recognized Wei Yun’s self-control and composure, a piercing ache spread through her heart. She couldn’t help but raise her hand to rest on his head, her voice hoarse as she called out, “Xiao Qi…”
Wei Yun opened his hazy eyes, staring blankly at Chu Yu. His trembling hand reached out to grasp Chu Yu’s hand resting on the edge of the tub.
Even now, he didn’t grip tightly. He restrained his strength, as if seeking some form of comfort, and pressed his face against Chu Yu’s hand. He was constantly breaking out in cold sweat; despite soaking in the scalding medicinal bath, his body felt exceptionally cold.
Chu Yu felt this coldness travel from her hand to her heart. She stroked his hair, her voice rough as she said, “I’m here. I’m right here.”
Wei Yun bit down on his pain, making no sound. His mind was foggy, focused only on the person before him. With his face pressed against her, listening to her words, he called out softly, “Sister-in-law…”
“I’m here.”
“A’Yu…”
“I’m here.”
He called to her over and over, and each time she responded.
As the final dose of medicine was administered, Wei Yun had little strength left. He leaned against the tub as Shen Wushuang gripped his jaw and began pouring the medicine. Halfway through, Wei Yun started to struggle, seemingly aware that consuming it would cause him pain. He pushed against Shen Wushuang.
However, Wei Yun truly had little strength left. Shen Wushuang forcefully held his chin and poured, then told Chu Yu, “You must hold him down.”
Chu Yu nodded. Shen Wushuang didn’t leave, watching Wei Yun from the side.
Moments later, the medicine began to take effect. Wei Yun finally couldn’t endure it and suddenly rose from the tub. Chu Yu, quick to react, pressed on his shoulders and pushed him back down. But he began to struggle desperately, crying out hoarsely, “It hurts… Sister-in-law, it hurts…”
Hearing the word “Sister-in-law,” Shen Wushuang, who was helping hold Wei Yun down, paused briefly and glanced at Chu Yu.
However, Chu Yu’s attention was entirely on Wei Yun. She held down the struggling Wei Yun firmly as large beads of sweat fell from his forehead. Wei Yun fought desperately to get out, with Shen Wushuang and Chu Yu both restraining him. Gradually, Wei Yun regained some clarity through the pain.
He opened his eyes and saw Chu Yu standing before him. He couldn’t help but reach out, trembling, and called hoarsely, “Hold me…”
Chu Yu was momentarily stunned. She looked at the shaking Wei Yun, his arms outstretched and face pale, repeating, “Hold me… please…”
Chu Yu stood by the tub and drew him into her embrace.
His forehead pressed against her abdomen, seemingly leaning his entire weight on her, breathing shallowly.
Shen Wushuang stared at the two of them, seeing Wei Yun quiet down in her arms. After a moment’s thought, he turned and walked out.
Chu Yu held Wei Yun, running her fingers through his hair. Wei Yun controlled all his movements, only lightly resting his forehead against her abdomen, feeling her warmth and listening to her heartbeat.
“Sister-in-law…” he murmured. “I miss Father and Big Brother so much…”
Chu Yu’s eyes stung with tears. She couldn’t help but tighten her embrace, holding him closer.
She wanted to respond, but she couldn’t.
He longed for those who had passed away, and she had no way to bring them back to life.
She suddenly realized that Wei Yun had become such an important person to her that with just one word from him, she would be willing to go through fire and water for him. She lowered her gaze and said hoarsely, “I’m still here…”
Your big brother is gone, but I’m still here.
Wei Yun leaned against her, perhaps not hearing. He reached out and wrapped his arms around her waist, like vines entwining around a tree trunk, intertwining together.
Flowers that bloom from despair are often exceptionally vibrant and beautiful. A faint light in the darkness makes one’s heart tremble.
Time passed slowly. Wei Yun’s arms around Chu Yu gradually loosened until Shen Wushuang entered again and said, “Time’s up.”
Only then did Chu Yu snap back to reality. She hurriedly lifted Wei Yun out of the water, carried him to the bed, then used a cloth to dry his body and changed his clothes.
Wei Yun had already passed out, lying motionless on the bed. After Chu Yu finished, she noticed her face felt sticky. She raised her hand to touch her cheek and realized she had cried unconsciously, letting the tears dry on her face.
She quickly went out to fetch water. Shen Wushuang stood at the doorway, hesitantly saying, “Um… Madam Wei.”
Chu Yu halted her steps. Shen Wushuang mumbled, “You’re… his sister-in-law?”
Chu Yu was silent for a moment. By now, she was quite familiar with Shen Wushuang. Since he had figured it out, she saw no need to hide it anymore. She nodded and calmly said, “I am indeed the first wife of the Wei family, the wife of Wei Jun, the former heir of the Wei family. Because it’s inconvenient outside and to avoid trouble, we pretended to be husband and wife. I hope Dr. Shen understands.”
Shen Wushuang quickly nodded, saying, “I understand, I understand.”
At this moment, he finally recalled Wei Yun’s words from the previous night. He couldn’t help but feel bitter, finally realizing that Wei Yun wasn’t trying to scold him at all.
He was trying to find a way out through him.
He watched Chu Yu turn away and sigh, entering the room to Wei Yun’s side to begin acupuncture. Halfway through, Wei Yun slowly regained consciousness.
He opened his eyes, staring at the ceiling. Shen Wushuang, head lowered, asked, “Awake?”
“Mm.” Wei Yun responded, turning his head slowly to look around. His voice hoarse, he said, “I…” He hesitated for a moment before finally asking, “Where’s my wife?”
“The First Madam is washing up.”
Shen Wushuang’s use of “First Madam” made it clear to Wei Yun that he was tactfully expressing his awareness of their true relationship.
Wei Yun said nothing. Shen Wushuang thought for a moment before finally asking, “You… like her?”
There was no need to specify who “her” referred to; they both knew.
Wei Yun closed his eyes and softly responded with an “Mm.”
This frank attitude made Shen Wushuang a bit unsure of how to react. He lowered his head, searching for acupuncture points as he casually asked, “Does she know?”
“No.”
“Do you want her to know?”
Wei Yun fell silent. After a long while, he slowly said, “Wait a while.”
“Wait for what?” Shen Wushuang asked, puzzled. Wei Yun watched the knotted strings on the bed swaying gently in the breeze and slowly said, “Right now, I’m walking on a knife’s edge. I don’t even know how far I’ll get. When I’ve finished this journey, avenged my family, pacified the realm, and made sure I can protect her…”
He hesitated at this point, finally saying, “I’ll see how she feels then.”
“You,” Shen Wushuang couldn’t help but laugh, “you are good at enduring.”
Wei Yun chuckled lightly, but his eyes held a touch of sadness.
“It’s not about endurance. I can’t let her become a widow in the Wei family for a second time.”
“What if, in the meantime, she falls in love with someone else?”
Shen Wushuang asked, somewhat confused. Hearing this, Wei Yun pressed his lips together before saying, “She won’t.”
Shen Wushuang raised an eyebrow. Wei Yun looked into the distance: “I’m by her side.”
This response made Shen Wushuang smile. He removed the needles and said with a laugh, “Then I wish you good luck.”
Wei Yun responded with a sound of acknowledgment. Shen Wushuang patted his leg, “Can you feel anything?”
Wei Yun nodded. Shen Wushuang stood up: “Rest and sleep for a while. When you wake up, move your legs a bit in bed. Later, let Madam Wei help you walk around. You should be able to walk normally tomorrow. After recovering for so long, your tendons and bones should be healed. Now that you can feel sensation, the blockages should be mostly cleared.”
With that, Shen Wushuang got up, saying he was leaving, and departed without ceremony.
Wei Yun lay in bed, moving his legs on his own. Not long after, Chu Yu returned to the room. She slept behind the curtain separating them. In the evening, Chu Yu supported him as he began to walk. By the time the moon rose above the willow branches, Wei Yun was drenched in sweat but could almost walk normally.
Seeing that he could walk normally, Chu Yu thought for a moment and said, “I’ll watch over you for one more night, and then we’ll sleep separately starting tomorrow.”
Wei Yun lowered his head and responded with a soft “Mm.”
Chu Yu noticed he seemed a bit downcast and couldn’t help but smile, “Not happy?”
“No,” Wei Yun kept his gaze on his toes, “Just tired.”
Chu Yu smiled and helped him back to the room. In the middle of the night, Chu Yu vaguely heard the sound of a door opening. She drowsily opened her eyes and saw Wei Yun walking out. Hesitating, she got up, put on a cloak, and followed him out. She then saw Wei Yun in the moonlight, leaning against the wall, practicing walking back and forth repeatedly.
From then on, every day, Wei Yun practiced walking under Chu Yu’s supervision during the day and secretly practiced at night. He quickly regained his initial level of mobility.
One night, Chu Yu sat by the window and saw Wei Yun pick up the long spear she had placed in the courtyard.
It was now April when flowers were in full bloom. Moonlight flowed like water across the ground. The white-robed youth held the long spear, one hand behind his back. With a sudden shake, the spear roared out like a flying dragon.
His movements stirred up gusts of wind, scattering peach blossoms throughout the courtyard. She sat by the window, staring blankly, feeling her heart beat one by one as if wrapped in honey, heavier, more lingering, and… more joyful.
That night, Chu Yu dreamed. In her dream, Wei Yun wielded the long spear, dancing under the moon. It started in this small courtyard, then moved to outside Phoenix Hill. He looked back amidst a sea of people, then it was before the palace gates. He supported himself despite being covered in wounds, still standing in front of her, holding up an umbrella for her. Finally, it was the night they released sky lanterns, sitting on the eaves of a house.
The dream contained many things not in her memories. She dreamed of Wei Yun holding her, lowering his head to ask her something.
Sky lanterns rose, warm and vivid in the night.
Their fingers intertwined, lips and tongues entwined.
Yet that kiss held no trace of desire, entirely different from all she had experienced before.
It was warm and pure, carrying a young man’s caution and shy trepidation.
Then, in her dream, she was awakened by Wei Yun’s voice.
“Sister-in-law!”
Chu Yu’s eyes snapped open to see Wei Yun above her, sword in hand, urgently saying, “There are troops outside the city. We must leave quickly!”
Chu Yu sprang up, listening carefully for a moment. From outside came the sound of soldiers marching in unison, Northern Di troops organizing and clearing civilians, children crying, and women shouting.
Many sounds intertwined. Chu Yu quickly gathered their valuables, grabbed her sword, and rushed out with Wei Yun.
Shen Wushuang and Bai Shang had also awakened. Shen Wushuang packed some commonly used herbs and his homemade medicinal pills and poisons. Bai Shang packed gold, silver, and dried food. They were experienced in fleeing, doing everything efficiently and neatly.
Shen Wushuang carried Shen Jiaojiao on his back, following Wei Yun, anxiously asking, “Do you know who it is?”
“I’ll lead the way, Sister-in-law cover the rear. Shen Wushuang, guide us. Bai Shang carries the child. Shen Wushuang, take your sword!” Wei Yun quickly ordered before answering Shen Wushuang’s question: “We’ll see when we get out.”
In any case, if it was the Northern Di army, they had to run.
If it was the Great Chu army, they would go to meet them.
If it was Wei Qiu and Wei Xia…
They needed to notify them to retreat.
Wei Yun made these calculations in his mind.
Shen Wushuang led Wei Yun out the door, saying as they walked, “From the sound, they’re coming from the east gate. Let’s exit through the west gate first, then circle to the side to see clearly who’s coming before deciding what to do.”
Wei Yun nodded. The city was now in chaos, with everyone fleeing towards the west gate. No one stopped them. So Wei Yun and Shen Wushuang turned back to protect Chu Yu, Bai Shang, and Shen Jiaojiao as they squeezed out together.
After exiting the west gate, the five of them circled to the side. There, outside the gates of Sha City, they saw crimson military flags fluttering in the night breeze.
The flags were embroidered with golden cloud patterns, with a large golden “Wei” character standing prominently in the center. This “Wei” character was written to resemble a bird, and upon closer inspection, one could see that this bird was the divine Vermilion Bird.
The Vermilion Bird was the Wei family crest. Seeing it here, Wei Yun and Chu Yu immediately concluded that this must be Wei Xia and Wei Qiu’s group. Wei Yun immediately led the group towards that army, and from a distance, they could see Wei Qiu and Wei Xia riding side by side at the front.
By now, Sha City was almost ready and preparing for battle. The Wei family army, however, hadn’t moved, seemingly still hesitating. After a moment’s thought, Wei Qiu raised his hand, about to order an attack on the city, when he heard Wei Yun shout, “Stop! Retreat!!”
Wei Qiu turned around first, seeing Wei Yun rushing towards them. Wei Xia turned as well, exclaiming with joy, “My Lord!”